Animal health legislation must be workable

Speaking on Tuesday at a stakeholders forum on Modernization of Animal Health Legislation and Regulation at the Sugarcane Feeds Centre in Longdenville, he said that legislation should treat with both present and future issues.

Rambharat also spoke to specific issues raised at the forum dealing with clarification of proposed amendments to Animal Health Legislation on the issue of country of origin, disease and definitions.

Gregg Rawlins, representative from the Inter- American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), noted that the purpose of the meeting was to disseminate the final draft document to stakeholders and host discussions on the way forward in moving the legislative process to the next stage.

Michelle Mellows of the Ministry’s Animal Production and Health Division echoed the words of Minister Rambharat saying that animal health legislative framework must be robust, unambiguous and fit for purpose.

Presentations were made on topics, including Animal Health Bill (2017) Outlining SPS Compliance and Veterinary Authority and Animal Health Policy, Legislation and Regulations.

The primary objective of the consultation was to modernize and strengthen existing animal health legislation in order to implement Trinidad and Tobago’s obligations under the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

This Draft Legislation, once approved, is intended to repeal and replace the 1954 Animals (Diseases and Importation) Act, Chapter 67:02 and the 1955 Animals (Importation) Control Regulations. The main objectives of the Draft Bill are to protect and promote animal and human health; prevent the introduction and spread of animal diseases within Trinidad and Tobago; facilitate and regulate trade in animals, animal products and animal-related items; and to establish standards for animal welfare.

Included among the stakeholders were Robin Phillips of Arawak Limited and Dr David Kangaloo, Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries